NZ Transport Agency

20 March 2009

Cycle mad centres congratulated

It’s official. Results just in from the 2009 Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge reveal New Zealand has lots of ‘cycle mad’ cities.

New Plymouth has wrestled the title in the large centre category (population over 58,000) from last year’s winner, Rodney District, by scoring a massive 3,641 points.

Central Hawke’s Bay has taken the mid-sized title (population over 11,000) for the second year in a row by scoring 507 points, and Opotiki has won in the small centre category (population under 11,000), also for the second year in row, with 766 points.

This was the fourth Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge attracting more than 17,300 participants nationwide. Around 50 towns and cities competed for the title in their category, up from 35 centres in 2008.

NZ Transport Agency Media Manager, Andy Knackstedt, congratulated participants and mayors from the winning centres, and said the show of local spirit across New Zealand was heartening.

“The Mayoral Challenge rides have been a big success again this year, and all of the feedback tells us they’ve also been loads of fun. We’re really impressed with how many people got riding to support their communities. .

“Events like these, that have such strong support from local leaders, businesses and local personalities, are helping more and more Kiwis discover that biking is a fun and convenient alternative to driving, especially for short trips.

“The winning centres may get the official bragging rights, but everyone who took part deserves a pat on the back.”

The Mayoral Challenge is a highlight of Bike Wise Month, an annual campaign aimed at getting Kiwis to discover biking as a fun and eco-friendly way to be more active. The aim is to get as many people as possible riding along with the local mayor. Points are earned for each participant, with bonus points given for participating celebrities, business and community leaders.

Cities and districts taking part this year included:

Ashburton, Balclutha, Cambridge, Cromwell, Dannevirke, Dargaville, Dunedin, Fairlie, Feilding, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hawera, Hokitika, Kaikohe, Kaipara, Kawerau, Kerikeri, Lower Hutt, Mangawhai, Mangonui,,Motueka, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Opotiki, Orewa, Otorohanga Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Papakura, Porirua, Pukekohe, Rolleston, Rotorua, Selwyn, Takaka, Taupo, Tauranga, Te Kuiti, Timaru, Upper Hutt, Waimate, Waipukurau, Wairoa, Wanganui, Whakatane and Whangarei.

Visit http://www.bikewise.co.nz/Site/events/ for further information or contact your local council.

ENDS

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